JCP urges Tokyo governor to cancel vice governor’s trip to Davos costing 33 million yen

   Japanese Communist Party Tokyo Metropolitan Assembly members’ Group on January 23 made representations to Tokyo Governor Ishihara Shintaro and urged him to cancel Vice Governor Inose Naoki’s participation in the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

   JCP Metropolitan Assembly members’ Group Chair Watanabe Yasunobu pointed out that when luxurious overseas trips made by Ishihara and his close aides drew public criticism in the gubernatorial election last year, Ishihara had to express his “reflection” over the matter.

   Watanabe criticized the vice governor’s planned trip for using tax money for first-class air tickets and hosting an extravagant reception in Davos costing 12 million yen, with total expenses amounting to 33 trillion yen.

   Citing that Ishihara in a Metropolitan Assembly meeting in December 2006 stated, “I do not see the importance of the Davos Forum,” Watanabe said, “While residents are suffering from oil price hikes as well as increasing poverty, the vice governor’s participation to the forum without even being invited, and hosting a reception will inevitably provoke criticism.”
- Akahata, January 24, 2008